Driving ranges?

[Shooter McPowick]

Im hoping EGU will clarify if driving ranges will be allowed to open. I cant see it happening myself and I saw in the US golf started before ranges did.

I was thinking last night that most ranges have ball washers, a mild disinfectant could be added to decontaminate the balls between uses.

A bit like what has already been announced, common sense says stay 2 meters apart and it shouldn't be a problem.

Just a bit of a Monday morning ramble....

 

[Imurg]

My local one is opening on Wednesday...
They have quite a bit of space and will be using disinfectant and hand sanitizer.....

 

[Shooter McPowick]

My local one is opening on Wednesday...
They have quite a bit of space and will be using disinfectant and hand sanitizer.....

I just saw your comment on this in another thread..... Interesting...

Our range isn't enclosed in any way so I guess as long as social distancing can be maintained and people are sensible it could open.

Silvermere on the other hand is just down the road, given the enclosed nature it seems a far greater risk.

 

[Chico84]

I can’t see how they can safely open when everyone needs to use ball dispensers, baskets, etc. Even if the range does reopen I think I’m more likely to go and play a round before I go to the range.

 

[ManinBlack]

I can’t see how they can safely open when everyone needs to use ball dispensers, baskets, etc. Even if the range does reopen I think I’m more likely to go and play a round before I go to the range.

Ball dispenser is contactless, balls are washed thoroughly, baskets can be sterilised. Don't you handle the basket at the supermarket?

 

[Chico84]

Ball dispenser is contactless, balls are washed thoroughly, baskets can be sterilised. Don't you handle the basket at the supermarket?

You have to press buttons on the ball dispenser at my range to select number of balls. Fair point about the basket. Nonetheless, I’ll be giving it a miss for a while yet.

 

[Siolag]

You have to press buttons on the ball dispenser at my range to select number of balls. Fair point about the basket. Nonetheless, I’ll be giving it a miss for a while yet.

This is where businesses need to adapt to survive/reopen.

Nothing to stop the range having the balls ready in the buckets for people coming, contactless payment and off you go.

 

[Chico84]

This is where businesses need to adapt to survive/reopen.

Nothing to stop the range having the balls ready in the buckets for people coming, contactless payment and off you go.

That’s a good idea.

 

[larmen]

Silvermere on the other hand is just down the road, given the enclosed nature it seems a far greater risk.

That’s the range I am using and I am watching their page for updates.

It is busy on a normal evening or weekend, I can’t see them going every 2nd bay only to generate distance, but the bays are big to begin with.
The lower tear with automatic ball tees I usually avoid, but I would prefer that at the time being, I think.

 

[jim8flog]

Don't you handle the basket at the supermarket?

NO. I stay away from baskets and trolleys in supermarkets.

I think the ball baskets are going to be the biggest problem.

 

[ManinBlack]

My mate runs a range & expects to open in the next two weeks. There is already a screen between customer & staff member & contactless card payments are possible. The ball dispenser is contactless & it's possible to institute a one way system for going in & out.

I don't see a huge risk as long as you disinfect your hands a frequent intervals, especially when leaving. A lot less risky than going shopping, or to work.

 

[jim8flog]

The balls themselves should be fine. Where I play they will be sat out on the range for a lot of days, they are collected by machine and go in to a ball washer before being available for use.

 

[DanFST]

You could just wipe it with sanitiser? Or carry to the bay then sanitise your hands.

People have had to deal with lift buttons this crisis too.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

That’s the range I am using and I am watching their page for updates.

It is busy on a normal evening or weekend, I can’t see them going every 2nd bay only to generate distance, but the bays are big to begin with.
The lower tear with automatic ball tees I usually avoid, but I would prefer that at the time being, I think.

Yeah me too, like you say the bays are spacious but my thinking was if Silvermere opens them my clubs driving range with free balls (for members) should open too.

 

[bradleywedge]

I can’t see how they can safely open when everyone needs to use ball dispensers, baskets, etc. Even if the range does reopen I think I’m more likely to go and play a round before I go to the range.

Like people use baskets at supermarkets you mean? No difference in my opinion. As long as people are prepared to use common sense I don't see a problem

 

[Mandofred]

Ours is just a big field. You were able to get a basket of balls from the pro shop.....but most people like me just bring their own. My shag bag holds about 85-90 balls. I quite often go through it twice. If I didn't hit any drives I wouldn't even have to touch a golf ball. I also go early so I don't have to share the field.

 

[Shooter McPowick]

Ours is just a big field. You were able to get a basket of balls from the pro shop.....but most people like me just bring their own. My shag bag holds about 85-90 balls. I quite often go through it twice. If I didn't hit any drives I wouldn't even have to touch a golf ball. I also go early so I don't have to share the field.

thats lush!

 

[Chico84]

Ours is just a big field. You were able to get a basket of balls from the pro shop.....but most people like me just bring their own. My shag bag holds about 85-90 balls. I quite often go through it twice. If I didn't hit any drives I wouldn't even have to touch a golf ball. I also go early so I don't have to share the field.

Slight diversion off topic but do you then collect the balls you bring with you after you’ve hit them? What happens if someone else is hitting balls too?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Slight diversion off topic but do you then collect the balls you bring with you after you’ve hit them? What happens if someone else is hitting balls too?

When we were allowed to do the same thing and use our own balls, we had an unwritten rule that if someone wanted to wander out and collect their balls the others would simply stop hitting, or hit a few short pitches etc until they had collected the balls and come back in. I marked all of mine with a thick red stripe which made it fairly easy to see but if people didn't mark their balls again the unwritten rule was pick up roughly as many as you hit out

 

[larmen]

I find it stressful to pick up MY 5 balls from a chipping green. Only really use 15 to 20 if i have it to myself.